What does the Eighth Amendment prohibit?

The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution specifically prohibits the infliction of cruel and unusual punishment. This provision reflects the principle that punishments should be proportionate to the offenses committed and that the state should not employ excessively harsh or inhumane treatment toward individuals within the criminal justice system. The underlying purpose of this amendment is to ensure that the dignity of individuals is maintained, even when they are being punished for wrongdoing. This prohibition has been interpreted through various Supreme Court cases that explore the parameters of what constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, including considerations of societal standards and evolving notions of decency.

The other options mention different rights protected by the Constitution: excessive taxation is not a subject of the Eighth Amendment, as it falls under different constitutional guidelines; self-incrimination is safeguarded by the Fifth Amendment; and double jeopardy, the legal principle preventing someone from being tried twice for the same offense, is addressed in the Fifth Amendment as well. Hence, while these other concepts are integral to a comprehensive understanding of individual rights, it is the Eighth Amendment that specifically deals with the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishments.